Dangerous Traffic?

[Cmeckley]

Just weeks away from my first Camino! I am particularly concerned because I will be walking with my 14 year old daughter (from SJPP - Santiago). Are there any areas of high/dangerous traffic I should be aware of in advance? I'm wondering if it makes sense to take brief, alternative transport through such places.

 

[jpflavin1]

Hello:

I just completed the Camino Frances on April 25th. While all the major cities require some level of caution, the only one I found dangerous was the bridge crossing a river outside of Leon. The walkway was less than a meter wide and heavy traffic going in both directions.

Good luck it is nice to see a father/daughter combination on the Camino.

I will offer you two pieces of advice. One, review your pack load, everyone takes too much and poco poco.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[Cmeckley]

Thank you, Joe! I will make note of it in my guide.

Incidentally, we are a mother-daughter team After many years of dreaming about it, we are walking this year in honor of my 40th b-day, and my daughter heading off to boarding school this September.

 

[Vigdis]

I agree with jpflavin.
Next time I go (cause there must be a next time ... ) I will take a bus into and out of Leon. Maybe from Mansilla de las Mulas to Hospital de Orbigo (alternatively to Villadangos del Paramo). Much walking next to roads there (but not dangerous excactly, except for just before reaching Leon).

I went with my daughter too, 18 then, in 2009. Nice to share the camino with your daughter!
Buen camino to both of you!

 

[grayland]

The walking in traffic is not a major problem or concern unless people are walking somewhere different than i have been.
I would suggest a very lightweight runner type fluorescent vest. Keep it for real easy access and then just pop it on when you feel the traffic is a little close. Be sure to get the really light one as it does not have to be worn much.

 

[Kialoa3]

It is interesting that others have picked up on the only place on the Camino where the traffic gave me any concern. It is the narrow, but thankfully short, bridge crossing into Villarente, about 11 Kms from the municipal albergue in Leon. With the exception of this one bridge I did not experience any safety problems walking into Burgos, Leon or any place else.

Buen camino

 

[anniethenurse]

It is interesting that others have picked up on the only place on the Camino where the traffic gave me any concern. It is the narrow, but thankfully short, bridge crossing into Villarente, about 11 Kms from the municipal albergue in Leon. With the exception of this one bridge I did not experience any safety problems walking into Burgos, Leon or any place else.

Buen camino

the same with me - I would NOT take a bus either to Leon or out of Leon. Nor To/ from Burgos. Not for the safety reasons. Walking to Leon is not dangerous at all. You cross the highway once and then you walk over the highway on puentes high up above the highway.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Into Leon and Burgos, and out of Leon are the best examples of urban pilgrimage on the Camino. Some love it, most hate it. Leaving Logrono is the kind of urban walk I like; stores and car dealerships, followed by one of the largest city parks I have seen. I did not see that any were actually dangerous. There is plenty of daily danger to pedestrians who are not wary of traffic.

 

[Sojourner47]

Getting slightly off topic, or off the CF, the last day of the Camino Ingles has a few hundred metres of dodgy walking beside a major road with heavy traffic whizzing past at a rate of knots - I didn't like that bit at all. :mrgreen:

 

[Steve.Belfast]

There's one thing to keep in mind where traffics concerned. If you're from a country where they drive on the left, you'll automatically look to the right before crossing a road.
I did that on a road just outside Sarria. The speeding car passing from my left missed me by inches.
To feel the back draught from the Angel of Deaths wings is a sobering experience.

 

[Sojourner47]

There's one thing to keep in mind where traffics concerned. If you're from a country where they drive on the left, you'll automatically look to the right before crossing a road.
I did that on a road just outside Sarria. The speeding car passing from my left missed me by inches.
To feel the back draught from the Angel of Deaths wings is a sobering experience.

Amen, Steve. My camino nearly ended the first morning in Ferrol, when I mistook a dual carriageway for 2 direction road, and didn't properly check to my left.....